MARYLAND HOSPITALS TO HOLD MRSA AWARENESS FORUMS

Maryland hospitals are coming together to hold a series of important community forums to help educate state residents on a serious health concern — Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) — an infection that is resistant to certain antibiotics and most frequently occurs among people in hospitals and health care facilities who have weakened immune systems. A new strain of MRSA found in places like schools, day care centers, gyms, and other places where people congregate, has led to media attention and a resulting concern about its potential spread.

“The best way to address public alarm over MRSA is to get the facts about how to moderate, if not eliminate, the spread of this type of infection,” said Cal Pierson, president of the Maryland Hospital Association. The MHA is coordinating these community forums.

Hospitals throughout Maryland have developed effective strategies to prevent the spread of MRSA and similar infections. They will share these strategies with community members attending the forums.

A panel of hospital clinical experts, local public health officers, and others involved in efforts to reduce the rates of such infections and lower the risks will be on hand to share common-sense information to help protect individuals from contracting MRSA in community settings, and answer questions about how hospitals are addressing MRSA.

A list of the planned forums and locations is attached. For the most up-to-date list, visit MHA’s Web site at www.mdhospitals.org.

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MHA is a membership organization for Maryland hospitals and health systems. Its membership is comprised of community and teaching hospitals, health systems, specialty hospitals, veterans hospitals, and long-term care facilities.